I’m not a knife pimper. I’m a sometimes blade and handle butcher who makes modifications to my knives to better fit my needs. Usually handle mods to make them more comfortable or easier to conceal. Never to make them look better. I leave that to the pros.
I have been patron of pimpers since 2001. I have commissioned, bought, and sold many (too many) pimped knives. I believe my first pimped knife was a non-wave 8 with new scales done by Bill Yester. The first fully pimped knife I bought was a used non-wave 8 with blue anodized Ti bolsters and mammoth ivory scales by Reese Weiland. I sold it in 2003 and haven’t seen it around for sale on forums in more than 10 years.
I would like to share some of what I’ve learned about Emerson Poboys and the market for them over many years and in particular over the last two years as my general knife accumulation has transformed into a Poboy collection. I don’t know who coined the word Poboy (or PoBoy or Po Boy) but it has caught on. While I’ve seen it applied to other knife brands, to me it is only properly applied to Emerson knives.
My definition of an Emerson Poboy is an Emerson production knife that has been transformed into an Emerson custom look alike. Since all Emerson customs are liner locks, I don’t consider a frame lock with bolsters and scale on the show (left) side to be a Poboy. Others may have their own opinion.
I won’t comment on what pimpers charge for Poboy conversions because that price can vary depending on the condition of the knife to be converted, the specifics the customer asks for, and how much the pimper needs the work. Like everything else, price depends on seasons and markets.
Quality can be relative since it depends on the maturity of the pimpers. All get better with experience and a Poboy they make now is likely even better than one they made several years ago.
I will comment that Bill Yester, Andrew Charlet, and Steve Kyle all make spectacular Poboys, 10 on a scale of 0 to 10. Phil Bruckerhoff (ferrrk) can be equaled but not surpassed, but he has dropped off the face of the earth. I have a Poboy 15 by Lionwerks and a Tiger by Smock Knives that are 9 out of ten but these are older knives and the makers no longer take on conversions.
I can’t comment on Nath’s work since I’ve never owned or handled any of his Poboys. Based on pictures and comments I would put him up there at 10/10.
I will likely get flamed for this by Emerson fanboys (I’m one myself) but the handle work done by Bill and Andrew is as good as the work done by Ernie himself on his customs. I base this on the half dozen customs I’ve owned and my current Poboy collection. Ernie excels at blade grinding and that’s what makes an Emerson custom. That, plus the knowledge that the designer and master knife maker made it with his own hands is what gives an Emerson custom its value.
So what is a Poboy worth? Less than the new value of the base knife and the cost of shipping and the conversion work. Certainly no more than 40% of the market price of an Emerson custom and that assumes like new condition with the original box and preferably the original scales.
I recommend you never have a Poboy made for speculation since you will never get your money back. Get one made if that’s what you would like to have. The Poboy will feel better in the hand than a production and they certainly look great.
Many post their Poboys for resale at well over $ 500 but with the exception of a Poboy 6, they are unlikely to sell even close to that price.
Based on my buying experience over the last two years, a reasonable price for a Poboy is what the base knife would sell for on a forum plus $ 200 shipped.
So if a CQC-8 LNIB might go for $ 150 to $ 175 a Poboy 8 will sell at $ 350 to $ 375. “Snail trails” on the bolsters and any marks on the blade will drop this $ 50 to $ 75.
Less popular productions make for less popular Poboys. A PSARK, CQC-11, or an Endeavor Poboy are harder to sell than a 7 or a Commander.
Black blades, serrations, black or anodized bolsters, edge regrinds (except zero grind), scales other than green Micarta, non standard pivots and other than slotted screws, standoffs versus Micarta back spacer, all lower the value. My used CQC-15 with black blade reground to a true V grind, bronze anodized bolsters and liners, non-standard hardware, standoffs, and dark brown Micarta scales is a fun knife. However its value is only about $ 225 to $ 250 in today’s market.
My EOTAC was already modified by a previous owner who removed the Cerakote camo factory blade finish and replaced the camo scales with green ones. Therefore the collector value of this relatively rare Emerson was already compromised. I paid a bit more than I should have since I wanted an EOTAC. That made this knife a poor basis for a Poboy if I was only considering resale value. However, I really like the knife and wanted a Poboy version. In resale, I’d be lucky to get half of what I have invested. My decision wasn’t based on economics.
My guideline for valuing Poboys is:
Street value of base knife (based on condition) plus $ 200
Black blade - take off $ 25
Serrated Blade take off $ 25
No box or original scales and screws - take off $ 25
Black bolsters or scales - take off $ 25
Custom back spacers, non Emerson pivots, add no value
Most people are looking for Poboy that approximates a custom so when you deviate from a satin (or stone wash) non-serrated blade, bead blasted bolsters, and green Micarta scales you are reducing resale value.
Should you pay more than my estimates? Like any buy, your desire for the knife drives what you will pay. Like my EOTAC. If it’s a keeper, a few dollars more doesn’t matter, but if you resell you won’t break even.
What’s the best buy on a Poboy? The best investment is to send a well loved knife in excellent to new condition to a reputable pimper for conversion to a Poboy. You’ve already made the investment, and since you are highly likely to keep it, the extra cost is well worth it.
Are there knives you shouldn’t make into a Poboy? I don’t recommend converting any ECA knives unless you retain the parts to convert them back.
What about 6’s? They are the exception to my value comments. None of the premier pimpers have done a Poboy 6 since the 2009 ban they all agreed to. Emerson 6’s have continued to increase in value, some over $ 4,000 at this writing. Poboy 6’s are actually rarer than a real 6 so depending on who made it and what it was made out of, and the condition, a reasonable price could be well over $ 600.
I was fortunate enough to find a well used Bill Yester Poboy 6 made out of a Super Raven at a very fair price. Bill offered to clean it up but I like the character marks it wears.
So if you like the look of a custom Emerson but either can’t afford one or don’t want to use the one you have, get one a reputable pimper to convert a production into a Poboy.
I have been patron of pimpers since 2001. I have commissioned, bought, and sold many (too many) pimped knives. I believe my first pimped knife was a non-wave 8 with new scales done by Bill Yester. The first fully pimped knife I bought was a used non-wave 8 with blue anodized Ti bolsters and mammoth ivory scales by Reese Weiland. I sold it in 2003 and haven’t seen it around for sale on forums in more than 10 years.
I would like to share some of what I’ve learned about Emerson Poboys and the market for them over many years and in particular over the last two years as my general knife accumulation has transformed into a Poboy collection. I don’t know who coined the word Poboy (or PoBoy or Po Boy) but it has caught on. While I’ve seen it applied to other knife brands, to me it is only properly applied to Emerson knives.
My definition of an Emerson Poboy is an Emerson production knife that has been transformed into an Emerson custom look alike. Since all Emerson customs are liner locks, I don’t consider a frame lock with bolsters and scale on the show (left) side to be a Poboy. Others may have their own opinion.
I won’t comment on what pimpers charge for Poboy conversions because that price can vary depending on the condition of the knife to be converted, the specifics the customer asks for, and how much the pimper needs the work. Like everything else, price depends on seasons and markets.
Quality can be relative since it depends on the maturity of the pimpers. All get better with experience and a Poboy they make now is likely even better than one they made several years ago.
I will comment that Bill Yester, Andrew Charlet, and Steve Kyle all make spectacular Poboys, 10 on a scale of 0 to 10. Phil Bruckerhoff (ferrrk) can be equaled but not surpassed, but he has dropped off the face of the earth. I have a Poboy 15 by Lionwerks and a Tiger by Smock Knives that are 9 out of ten but these are older knives and the makers no longer take on conversions.
I can’t comment on Nath’s work since I’ve never owned or handled any of his Poboys. Based on pictures and comments I would put him up there at 10/10.
I will likely get flamed for this by Emerson fanboys (I’m one myself) but the handle work done by Bill and Andrew is as good as the work done by Ernie himself on his customs. I base this on the half dozen customs I’ve owned and my current Poboy collection. Ernie excels at blade grinding and that’s what makes an Emerson custom. That, plus the knowledge that the designer and master knife maker made it with his own hands is what gives an Emerson custom its value.
So what is a Poboy worth? Less than the new value of the base knife and the cost of shipping and the conversion work. Certainly no more than 40% of the market price of an Emerson custom and that assumes like new condition with the original box and preferably the original scales.
I recommend you never have a Poboy made for speculation since you will never get your money back. Get one made if that’s what you would like to have. The Poboy will feel better in the hand than a production and they certainly look great.
Many post their Poboys for resale at well over $ 500 but with the exception of a Poboy 6, they are unlikely to sell even close to that price.
Based on my buying experience over the last two years, a reasonable price for a Poboy is what the base knife would sell for on a forum plus $ 200 shipped.
So if a CQC-8 LNIB might go for $ 150 to $ 175 a Poboy 8 will sell at $ 350 to $ 375. “Snail trails” on the bolsters and any marks on the blade will drop this $ 50 to $ 75.
Less popular productions make for less popular Poboys. A PSARK, CQC-11, or an Endeavor Poboy are harder to sell than a 7 or a Commander.
Black blades, serrations, black or anodized bolsters, edge regrinds (except zero grind), scales other than green Micarta, non standard pivots and other than slotted screws, standoffs versus Micarta back spacer, all lower the value. My used CQC-15 with black blade reground to a true V grind, bronze anodized bolsters and liners, non-standard hardware, standoffs, and dark brown Micarta scales is a fun knife. However its value is only about $ 225 to $ 250 in today’s market.
My EOTAC was already modified by a previous owner who removed the Cerakote camo factory blade finish and replaced the camo scales with green ones. Therefore the collector value of this relatively rare Emerson was already compromised. I paid a bit more than I should have since I wanted an EOTAC. That made this knife a poor basis for a Poboy if I was only considering resale value. However, I really like the knife and wanted a Poboy version. In resale, I’d be lucky to get half of what I have invested. My decision wasn’t based on economics.
My guideline for valuing Poboys is:
Street value of base knife (based on condition) plus $ 200
Black blade - take off $ 25
Serrated Blade take off $ 25
No box or original scales and screws - take off $ 25
Black bolsters or scales - take off $ 25
Custom back spacers, non Emerson pivots, add no value
Most people are looking for Poboy that approximates a custom so when you deviate from a satin (or stone wash) non-serrated blade, bead blasted bolsters, and green Micarta scales you are reducing resale value.
Should you pay more than my estimates? Like any buy, your desire for the knife drives what you will pay. Like my EOTAC. If it’s a keeper, a few dollars more doesn’t matter, but if you resell you won’t break even.
What’s the best buy on a Poboy? The best investment is to send a well loved knife in excellent to new condition to a reputable pimper for conversion to a Poboy. You’ve already made the investment, and since you are highly likely to keep it, the extra cost is well worth it.
Are there knives you shouldn’t make into a Poboy? I don’t recommend converting any ECA knives unless you retain the parts to convert them back.
What about 6’s? They are the exception to my value comments. None of the premier pimpers have done a Poboy 6 since the 2009 ban they all agreed to. Emerson 6’s have continued to increase in value, some over $ 4,000 at this writing. Poboy 6’s are actually rarer than a real 6 so depending on who made it and what it was made out of, and the condition, a reasonable price could be well over $ 600.
I was fortunate enough to find a well used Bill Yester Poboy 6 made out of a Super Raven at a very fair price. Bill offered to clean it up but I like the character marks it wears.
So if you like the look of a custom Emerson but either can’t afford one or don’t want to use the one you have, get one a reputable pimper to convert a production into a Poboy.
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